Mobile client computer programmed to display lists and hexagonal keyboard

ABSTRACT

A computer in which entry of data from an area provided on a display, touchscreen or the like is facilitated by the provision of a &#34;soft keyboard&#34;. The data entry area is defined, by the cooperation of a control program and a processor, to have a central zone in which data entry keys are displayed, and peripheral zones, in which function keys and a list of entry options are displayed. A user may morph the keyboard into any desired one of a variety of configurations.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is one of a series of related applications assigned tocommon ownership. Other applications in the series include:

Application Ser. No. 08/781,004 filed 9 Jan. 1997, entitled "MobileClient Computer with Keyboard Interface" with named inventors T. Aebli,B. Miller and W. W. Vetter;

Application Ser. No. 08/703,171 filed 22 Aug. 1996, entitled "MobileClient Computer Programmed to Predict Input" with named inventors R. L.Bertram, D. F. Champion and P. Brittenham;

Application Ser. No. 08/708,168 filed 22 Aug. 1996, entitled "MobileClient Computer Programmed to Exchange Lists of Predicted Input" withnamed inventors R. L. Bertram and W. T. Oldfield;

Application Ser. No. 08/814,034 filed 10 Mar. 1997, entitled "MobileClient Computer Interacting with Docking Device" with named inventors E.H. Booth, B. A. Carpenter, R. B. Ferrier, R. A. Resnick and W. W.Vetter;

Application Ser. No. 08/706,990 filed 22 Aug. 1996, entitled "MobileClient Computer Programmed to Copy Lists of Predicted Input" with namedinventors R. L. Bertram, P. J. Brittenham and D. F. Champion;

Application Ser. No. 08/813,148 filed 7 Mar. 1997, entitled MobileClient Computer Programmed for Systems Message Display" with namedinventors R. L. Bertram and D. F. Champion;

Application Ser. No. 08/813,522 filed 7 Mar. 1997, entitled "MobileClient Computer Programmed to Process Table Displays" with namedinventor R. L. Bertram;

Application Ser. No. 08/180,969 filed 3 Mar. 1997, entitled "MobileClient Computer Programmed to Combine Cursor, Control and InputFunctions" with named inventors P. J. Brittenham and L. D. Comerford;

Application Ser. No. 08/813,527 filed 3 Mar. 1997, entitled "MobileClient Computer Programmed to Display Drop Down Scrolling Indicator"with named inventors R. L. Bertram and D. F. Champion;

Application Ser. No. 08/813,521 filed 7 Mar. 1997, entitled "MobileClient Computer Programmed to Hide Empty Table Elements" with namedinventor R. L. Bertram;

Application Ser. No. 08/700,606 filed 12 Mar. 1996, entitled "MobileClient Computer Programmed to Establish Soft Keyboard TargetingSensitivity" with named inventors R. L. Bertram and D. F. Champion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal computer systems in general and IBM personal computers inparticular have attained widespread use for providing computer power tomany segments of today's modern society. Personal computer systems canusually be defined as a desk top, floor standing, or portablemicrocomputer that consists of a system unit having a single systemprocessor and associated volatile and non-volatile memory, a displaymonitor, a keyboard, one or more diskette drives, a fixed disk storage,and an optional printer. One of the distinguishing characteristics ofthese systems is the use of a motherboard or system planar toelectrically connect these components together. These systems aredesigned primarily to give independent computing power to a single userand are inexpensively priced for purchase by individuals or smallbusinesses. Examples of such personal computer systems are the personalcomputer systems offered by IBM and identified as the PERSONAL COMPUTERAT, PERSONAL SYSTEM/2, PS/1, Aptiva, and the like. Persons of skill inthe computer arts will be familiar with these systems.

These systems can be classified into two general families. The firstfamily, usually referred to as Family I Models, use a bus architectureexemplified by the IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER AT and other "IBM compatible"machines. The second family, referred to as Family II Models, use IBM'sMICRO CHANNEL bus architecture exemplified by IBM's PERSONALSYSTEM/2Models 50 through 95. The Family I models originally used thepopular INTEL 8088 or 8086 microprocessor as the system processor. Theseprocessors have the ability to address one megabyte of memory. TheFamily II models typically used the high speed INTEL 80286, 80386, and80486 microprocessors which can operate in a real mode to emulate theslower speed INTEL 8086 microprocessor or a protected mode which extendsthe addressing range from 1 megabyte to 4 Gigabytes for some models. Inessence, the real mode feature of the 80286, 80386, and 80486 processorsprovide hardware compatibility with software written for the 8086 and8088 microprocessors. As the state of the art has progressed, Family Isystems have developed toward ever higher capability central processorunits, including the Intel PENTIUM brand microprocessor and itscompetitors, Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) microprocessorssuch as the IBM and Motorola Power PC processors, and higher capabilitybus designs such as VESA and PCI bus designs. Again, persons of skill inthe computer arts will be familiar with these systems.

The impact of such development on the manner in which computing is donein business and consumer environments has been profound. Prior to thedevelopment of personal computer systems, most use of computers was forbusiness purposes only and data processing was done in the "glass house"which housed the computer system. Enquiries were channeled throughinformation managers for handling by computer technicians. With the widespread use of personal computer systems access to data once maintainedon an enterprise wide computer system became important to managers andultimately line employees. Networks of personal computer systems grewup, with layered access through network servers to the enterprisesystems or mainframes on which enterprise data is stored.

As information work has spread to an increasing number of informationworkers and impacted the work of more wide spread groups of employeeswithin an enterprise, need for mobility of such employees has arisen.Particularly in such "outside" jobs as route salesperson, transportdriver, or business consultant, it has become important to have access,while remote from an enterprise site, to enterprise data normallymaintained on an enterprise system and accessed through a network ofcomputer systems. Such access has been achieved, in part, through theuse of wireline connected personal computer systems such as notebook orlaptop computer systems. Typically, such a system may be equipped with amodem and communications software such that, when connected to a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), the system may be connected with asupporting server or mainframe and a user may gain access to desireddata.

With the development of radio communications such as exemplified by thecellular telephone networks, the possibility arose of eliminating thewireline connection between a personal computer system and a supportingserver. Such systems have been developed, particularly for systems usedin retail and warehousing businesses, which permit a user to move freelywithin an area which has radio transceiver service while remaining inintermittent or continuous contact with a data channel through whichdata may be exchanged with a server or mainframe supporting anenterprise activity. For purposes of discussion here, such systems inthe hands of user will be referred to as "mobile client systems". Amobile client system is distinguished by the mobility of the user, whois free of the restraints against movement imposed by a wirelineconnection, and by the client nature of the system in that enterprisedata accessed by the mobile client system is maintained on a server ormainframe computer system with which the mobile client is incommunication. Such mobile client systems are also sometimes referred toas personal communications assistants or personal digital assistants.The interested reader is referred to "Wireless: The Revolution inPersonal Telecommunications" by Ira Brodsky (Artech House, Boston, 1995)for additional background and information about mobile client systems.

Computers often present a "soft keyboard" to the user. The soft keyboardis typically an on-screen representation of a physical keyboard withalphanumeric characters and other controls. The following soft keyboardsall use rectangular regions for "keys":

A desktop computer displays a soft keyboard on the monitor which theuser operates with the mouse. This is most useful for small keyboardssuch as a number pad.

A tablet computer displays a soft keyboard which the user operates witha stylus. The tablet may rely exclusively on the soft keyboard forkeyboard input, not providing a physical keyboard.

A mobile client computer system displays a soft keyboard which the useroperates by touch, similar to a traditional keyboard.

A system gets input from a touch pad which does not overlay a display.The "keys" are permanent designs on the touch pad's surface. This is asoft keyboard since there are no mechanical keys.

The problem presented in each instance is that rectangular keys wastespace in a soft keyboard. The above systems only use the centralportions of the rectangles, not the corners. A user's finger, mouse orstylus distributes the probable points of selection radially from thecenter. With a rectangularly shaped "key region", the probable points ofselection are still arrayed in a substantially circular form.

Wasted space in soft keyboards is a serious problem, especially on smallscreens such as are provided in mobile client systems and especiallywhen there are a lot of keys (e.g. alphanumeric keyboards). Softkeyboards need another shape for keys besides the rectangle. The newshape must have the following properties:

The new shape should approximate a circle or ellipse as closely aspossible. It should avoid ninety degree corners like a rectangle sincethis is what wastes space.

The new shape should interlock so that space between the keys is notwasted.

The new shape should have a simple algorithm for testing inclusion of apoint. In other words, when the users presses one of the keys, thesystem must determine which key is pressed without undue overhead.

The new shape should have interlocking polygons which are staggered wheninterlocked, to allow a QWERTY keyboard to be more accuratelyrepresented.

The rectangle meets the third criteria better than any other shapebecause computer displays and sensor grids have a Cartesian nature. Itis simple for an algorithm to determine whether a point is below thetop, above the bottom, and between the sides of a rectangle. Any othershape requires regional boundary checking unless the shape is a perfectpolygon (with equal sides and angles). In a grid of perfect polygons, analgorithm can determine which shape contains a given point by findingwhich polygon's center is the closest. For instance, in a grid ofsquares, a point is always within the square whose center is theclosest.

Hence, a perfect polygon is preferred. The square is eliminated by thefirst criterion. Likewise, the equilateral triangle meets the second andthird criteria, but not the first.

The pentagon and octagon both fail the second criterion (they do notinterlock). The hexagon is the only perfect shape that meets all fourcriteria.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing as background, the present invention contemplates acomputer in which entry of data from an area provided on a display,touchscreen or the like is facilitated by providing for the coordinateddisplay of lists and a soft keyboard. As will be brought out more fullyhereinafter, the coordination of the display is such as to improve theefficiency of data entry by a user. The keyboard and list display may bemodified or "morphed" as that term is used herein, into variousconfigurations.

A system in which the present invention is embodied may be any of thetypes of systems mentioned above. The coordinated list and hexagonalsoft key keyboard arrangement is however, particularly useful with amobile client system of a type to be described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the purposes of the invention having been stated, others willappear as the following description proceeds, when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of certain elements of a mobileclient computer system in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mobile client system of FIG. 1 asassembled for use;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of relationships among a mobileclient system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and supporting peripherals andsystems;

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing of certain circuitry elements embodied inthe mobile client of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of certain circuitry elements and theirrelationships in the mobile client of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a state diagram of power modes for the mobile client of FIG. 2and transitions among them;

FIG. 7 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 6 showing the states ofcertain elements of the mobile client of FIG. 2 and including the statusof software executing on the mobile client;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the display screen of the mobile client ofFIG. 2 while driven by the execution of an application program on themobile client to display certain data;

FIG. 9 is an illustration similar to FIG. 8 showing a hexagonal key softkeyboard;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 of a"landscape" keyboard as contemplated by this invention:

FIG. 11 is an illustration similar to FIG. 10 showing a hexagonalkeyboard and an associated list; and

FIG. 12 is an illustration similar to FIGS. 10 and 11 showing ahexagonal keyboard and an associated lists as display in an alternate"hand";

FIG. 13 is an illustration similar to FIGS. 10 through 12 showing akeyboard with a featured list display;

FIG. 14 is an illustration similar to FIG. 10 showing a "portrait"keyboard as contemplated by this invention;

FIG. 15 is an illustration similar to FIGS. 14 and 11 showing ahexagonal keyboard and an associated list; and

FIG. 16 is an illustration similar to FIGS. 14 and 13 showing a keyboardwith a featured list display.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferredembodiments of the present invention are shown, it is to be understoodat the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill inthe appropriate arts may modify the invention here described while stillachieving the favorable results of this invention. Accordingly, thedescription which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teachingdisclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and notas limiting upon the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying Figures, FIGS. 1 and2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a mobile client personalcomputer system (herein also called a "mobile client") in accordancewith this invention and indicated generally at 10. As will become moreclear from the description which follows, the mobile client may have avariety of characteristics while remaining within the contemplation ofthis invention. Central among those characteristics is that the systemhave provision for the capability of communicating at least data,possibly both data and audio such as voice, between the mobile clientsystem and supporting servers and mainframes. In the illustratedembodiment, such capability is provided by providing a system which isseparable into three distinct components, namely a system tablet 11, aholster 12 and a radio transceiver 13. In the form illustrated, thetransceiver 13 is a cellular telephone which may be mounted within theholster 12, while the holster 12 may be connected with the system tablet11 by slipping the tablet into a receptacle provided in the holster 12.While thus illustrated and here described as a three component system,it will be understood that many of the advantages of this invention asdescribed hereinafter can be realized where the mobile client system 10is unified. That is, where the radio transceiver 13 is integrated withthe system tablet 11 and the connection therebetween is accomplishedwithin a single cover for the system, apart from any use of a holster12. The transceiver/holster/tablet organization provides certainadvantages in some circumstances. However, it is to be understood thatthe invention can be practiced apart from this particular organization.

An advantage realizable with the tripartite organization is the readysubstitution of one radio transceiver for another. More particularly,while digital data and analog audio can be exchanged over a cellulartelephone radio interface, with data using cellular digital packet data(CDPD) protocols, there are other possibilities. Among them can bedigital radio techniques such as frequency division multiple access(FDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA); spread spectrumtechnologies such as direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) andresultant code division multiple access (CDMA); frequency hopping spreadspectrum (FH-SS); and the combination of one of more of thesetechnologies into what are known as advanced mobile phone systems (AMPS)or advanced radio data information service (ARDIS) or RAM Mobile Data.As these technologies evolve and gain wider acceptance, the tripartiteorganization will facilitate adapting existing tablets 11 to emergingradio transceivers 13, and thereby protect the investment of users insystems. However, for certain environments such as adverse ambientconditions of temperature, humidity, or exposure to shock as bydropping, a unified system with transceiver and tablet and supportingcircuitry in a single cover may be a preferred choice.

Turning now to FIG. 3, what is there schematically indicated is therelationships among a system 10 in accordance with the invention andsupporting servers and peripherals. More particularly, while the tablet11 (as described more fully hereinafter) is normally adapted for inputby a user through a touchscreen 15 embodied in a backlit liquid crystaldisplay, the system 10 can accommodate a more conventional keyboard 16.The keyboard may be, as illustrated, wire tethered to the system 10 whendesired for use, with the tethering conductors 18 providing signalpathways for data input to reach the system 10. Alternatively, thekeyboard may be linked for data transfer by other means known to personsof skill in the art, such as by an infrared link using a known protocol.In the drawing, the system is shown linked to a printer 19 by an IrDAlink for data transfer by infrared radiation.

As indicated above, the radio transceiver provides a radio frequencylink to a server indicated at 20, which may communicate by wireline withsupporting mainframe data storage 21. Data relevant to the operation ofthe entire enterprise will be maintained on the supporting mainframe,and made available to the mobile client 10 in accordance with this andthe above identified related inventions.

Turning now to the circuitry elements which together accomplish theprocessing of data in accordance with this invention, FIG. 4 illustratesone form of organization of such elements. As there shown, theillustrated mobile client system 10 has at its core a microprocessor(indicated at 30) which uses reduced instruction set computing (RISC)characteristics. The processor has elements which include a controller31 for a liquid crystal display; a controller 32 for peripherals of thetype known as PCCards or PCMCIA cards; instruction/data cache 33; aninterface to memory and an external bus 34; and a real time clock 35;The microprocessor also has an interrupt controller 36 and a definedinterface for a variety of services 37. While here disclosed as a singleprocessor chip having these characteristics, it is known from themanufacture and use of prior art computer systems that suchcomputational capability and interface availability can be reached byother means, such as the use of an Intel X86 based processor surroundedby appropriate support logic or chips. Thus while the embodiment of FIG.4 is offered as exemplary of a system in accordance with this invention,it is known the core functionality of such a mobile client system can beotherwise configured.

As indicated in FIG. 4, the core microprocessor 30 is supported byperipherals. Most importantly, power for operating of the system issupplied from a battery 40. Preferably, the battery 40 is of the typeknown as a "smart" battery, in which provision is made for selfmonitoring by the battery of charge state and recharge progress. Suchbatteries are known and will provide signals to the mobile client systemprocessor 30 which can be used to generate indications to a user of thebattery charge state, readiness for re-use after charging, etc. Themobile client also preferably has a conventional modem 41, for use whenconnected by wireline, and a telephone interconnection point 42(indicated as an RJ-11 connector).

Memory for the system is provided by a flash memory accessory card 44.;by dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 45; and by core flash memory 46.

Preferably, a pair of PCMCIA slots, of type 11, are provided as shown at48 and 49 for the addition of other functionality.

In order to display the result of data handling operations performed bythe mobile client system, the system 10 has an LCD 15 as mentionedabove. The LCD is overlain by a suitable touchscreen 50 which functionsas a digitizer to recognize when input is made by a user. There will befurther discussion of this functionality later in this description.Input from the touchscreen, as from the battery and a temperaturesensor, passes through an analog/digital converter 51 to an input/output(I/O) port of the processor 30. Other I/O ports of the processor 30provide for connection to a keyboard as described above; an IrDA port52, an audio CODEC 54 and associated speaker 55 and microphone 56; andan interface connector 58 for the radio transceiver 13.

As was pointed out hereinabove, it is to be understood that the specificorganization of functions here described with reference to FIG. 4 may bevaried due to a designers choice of functions to be supported, processorcore, and support logic.

As mentioned above, the mobile client system 10 obtains power from abattery. While such operation is appropriate for mobility, provision ismade for support of the system 10 by connection to more conventionalpower sources in the form of alternating current electrical mains. Suchpower sources are identified at 60 in FIG. 5, to which reference is hadin the following description of power management relationships. As willbe understood, the management of power usage by a mobile client systemis significant with regard to usability of the system.

FIG. 5 illustrates the organization of peripherals around the processor30 from the perspective of power sources and consumption. The powermanagement topology is such that power flows to the processor 30 in thetablet 11 from the main battery 40, while separate flows of power andcontrol impact the holster 12, any radio transceiver 13 mounted in theholster, and any PCCard accessories used by the system. This division ofpower flows is of significance to the mobile client system 10 heredescribed. More particularly, a separate battery 61 is provided in theholster 12. The holster battery 61 preferably is a "smart" battery, andhas associated therewith in the holster 12 a battery controller 62, aholster peripheral controller 63, and associated circuitry 64 effectiveto interface the data streams flowing to and from the processor 30 withthe radio transceiver 13. Thus, while circuitry in the holster 12 andtransceiver 13 is under the control of the processor 30 (as will bepointed out more fully hereinafter), the power source is at leastsomewhat independent of the tablet 11. This is a significant division.When the tablet is engaged with a holster, the circuitry in the twocomponents cooperates in management of the whole. When a transceiver 13(which, if a conventional cellular telephone, may have its own powersource and power management techniques) is positioned in the holster 12,then the transceiver 13 may also have a coordinated role inparticipating in power management for the tripartite system.

Turning more particularly to the tablet 11, that system will havecontroller circuitry 66 for the battery 40 and a power supply 68 towhich the battery 40 supplies power for operation of the tablet 11. Inthe present system, provision is made for a separate microcontroller 69to exercise control over the power supply in order to off-load certainrequirements from the core processor 30. The microcontroller receivesinput from the processor 30 and from a converter 70. The processor 30and converter 70 are supported, for minimal functions, by a battery 71for the real time clock 35. The RTC battery 71 assures that the tabletsystem will wake up when called as described more fully hereinafter.

Turning now from the hardware topology to a discussion of the powermodes and transition events for the mobile client system 10, FIG. 6 isone illustration of such modalities. For purposes of the followingdescription, it should be noted that a user of the mobile client systemwill be provided with indicators for the levels of activity of thesystem. Typically, such indicators or annunciators will be in the formof light emitting diodes (LEDs), as such devices are readily available,inexpensive, and known to most users of technical devices. Thetripartite system may be provided with an indicator for the tablet 11,and indicator for the holster 12, and an indicator for the transceiver13. In FIG. 6, distinctions are drawn between states of activity whichreflect differing levels of activity between the tablet 11 and holster12, and an assumption is made that the system illustrated is atripartite system with tablet and holster joined.

With this background in mind, the fully active state of the system willhave both the tablet 11 and the holster 12 fully activated as indicatedby illumination of the corresponding LEDs and the backlit LCD 15. Thatstate is indicated at 75. The completely opposite state, with allcomponents powered down (as if when all batteries have been removed), isindicated at 76, and would result in all LEDs and the backlit LCD beingunilluminated. From the state of being fully active, a user may elect toturn off the holster 12, either by operating a switch provided for thatpurpose or by interrupting a necessary interconnection throughseparating the holster from the tablet or the radio transceiver from theholster. In such an event, the tablet LED and LCD may remain illuminated(as the tablet remains active) while the holster LED becomesunilluminated (indicated at 78). The mobile client may be capable ofdata processing using data stored in memory, yet be disconnected(intermittently or temporarily) from the supporting servers 20 and datastorage 21. Upon an occurrence determined by software executing on themobile client system, the system may enter a state known as suspend. Inthe suspend state, indicated at 79, the tablet LED and LCD and theholster LED are dark. Should it be appropriate for the radio transceiverto be used while the remainder of the tripartite system remains insuspend state, then the system can enter a state indicated at 80 inwhich the holster LED is illuminated and the transceiver functional.Similarly, upon an occurrence determined once again by softwareexecuting on the mobile client system, the system may enter a stateknown as standby, indicated at 81. In standby, the tablet LCD will bedarkened to save power, while the tablet LED will remain illuminated toindicate that the system can be "awakened" readily. The holster may beeither powered down (with LED dark) or remain active. A timer functionis provided which, after passage of a predetermined time interval withthe system 10 in Standby, will transition the system to Suspend mode.

The system can transition between Off state 76 and Active states 78 or75 by use of an on/off switch. The system can transition from anySuspend or Standby state to Off state 76 by use of the on/off switch orbattery removal. The system can transition from Suspend states 79 or 80to Active states 78 or 75 in response to a suspend/resume input from auser, an incoming call indication from the radio transceiver connectedwith the holster, time out of a timed interval, or a battery low chargeindication from the smart battery controllers. The system can transitionfrom Standby states to Active states 78 or 75 in response to user eventssuch as an input by way of the touchscreen or keyboard.

Another view of the power modes and transition events is given in FIG.7. There, the system states are represented as being an On state 81;Idle state 82; Standby state 84; Suspend state 85; and Off state 86. Inthe On State 81, the system LEDs and LCD are illuminated, the processor30 is operating in normal high function mode, application programs areactive, and other peripherals are power managed as needed. Passage oftime with inactivity will result in the system entering the Idle state82, in which execution of application programs by the processor hasended, the processor enters a "doze high" mode of power management, theLCD is illuminated, and other peripherals are power managed as needed.Any user event will return the system to the On state. Should thepassage of time cause the system to enter the Standby state 84, thenapplication programs become static, the processor enters a "doze low"mode of power management, the LCD is dark, and all other peripherals arepower managed as needed. Should the passage of time cause the system toenter the Suspend state 85, application programs become static and arecheckpointed for resumption, the processor enters a "sleep" mode ofpower management, the LCD is darkened, and all other peripherals areoff. Thus in terms of time intervals for turnaround to fully activestate 81, the system will return most quickly from Idle state 82, lessquickly from Standby state 84, less quickly from Suspend state 85, andmost slowly from Off state 86.

It is now believed instructive to address briefly the display andcommunication of data as contemplated for the mobile client system ofthis invention. Referring now more particularly to FIG. 8, there isshown there an exemplary representation of a display screen for anapplication program executed on the system 10. Preferably, the system 10executes an application program in the nature of a browser program asused for connection by HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and for filesin HyperText Markup Language (HTML). HTTP and HTML have come into wideuse in the environment known as the internet or world wide web. Thesetechnologies are here used to facilitate operation of the mobile clientsystem with minimal resources in the client and maximum use of resourcesavailable through the supporting server and mainframe data storage.

More particularly, the processor 30 of the client system executes anoperating system program and a browser program stored in the systemflash memory 46. In executing these programs, the system exchanges datawith a supporting server by passing data through the radio link providedby the transceiver 13 and interface 58 or the modem 41 if then wireconnected. Data so exchanged may be stored for manipulation by theoperating system and browser in the system DRAM memory 45. The browser,in conjunction with the data obtained from the supporting server, willdisplay on the LCD 15 a screen which may, for example, appear as shownin FIG. 8. The screen there shown has a title bar 90 across the upperlimit of the displayed field and, within the displayed field, a formhaving defined fields for data such as identifying numerals or names. Inthe specific form illustrated, the fields include a field for a centernumber, a hospital number, dates of birth and admission of theidentified patient, and the like. Adjacent the title bar 90 is arepresentation of an animal, shown at 91 and here illustrated as akangaroo. This representation is used, in accordance with certainimplementations of this invention, to indicate that the system is"jumping" from one data access to another and that a user should awaitcompletion of the "jump". There are also provided, immediately below thetitle bar 90, indications of function "buttons" such as return to themain (or initial) screen, go back one screen, exchange data by wirelesslink, battery charge state, and navigation about the screen presented.Certain fields, such as the Date of Admission to the ICU and the Classfields, may be annotated by a user, and are so indicated by thepositioning adjacent those fields of a "notebook" icon. The notebook maybe either closed (as adjacent the Date of Admission field) suggestingthat it presently lacks any annotation, or opened (as adjacent the Classfield) suggesting that it presently contains an annotation.

Inasmuch as the mobile client system 10 has a touchscreen 50 whichoverlies the LCD 15, input of data into the system can be accomplishedby a stylus, pointer or finger applied to fields of the touchscreen.Thus, referring to FIG. 8, should a user desire to input informationidentifying the gender of a particular patient, the user could touch(with stylus, pointer or finger) the buttons "male" or "female" to enterthat data. Similarly, should a user wish to enter an annotation, theuser could touch the field defined by the notebook icon to change theicon between the closed and open states and thereby open a field forentry of appropriate numerical or alphabetic data. Display of suchfields results from execution of a control program by the processor ofthe mobile client system.

Other and further functions of the control and application programs andthe screen display will become more clear from discussion which followsor appears in the above identified related applications.

As will be understood, the area available for display of screens in amobile client system of the type here described is limited. Suchlimitations impose severe restrictions on the front of screen technologyused in generating displays and in providing for the input of data usinga touchscreen overlaying the display area. The present inventioncontemplates that control programs stored accessibly to the processor ofa mobile client system will cooperate with the other elements present,when executing on the processor, in accommodating the restricted displayarea to the needs of users of the system. This invention focusesparticularly on certain of such needs.

More particularly, the present invention is a hexagonal soft keyboarddisplayed on the touchscreen as illustrated in FIG. 9 which addressesthe need of facilitating entry of data from a small data entry area suchas a portion of a touchscreen. The arrangement of the keys shown in FIG.9 is illustrative only, and many other arrangements are possible, as isshown in FIGS. 10 through 16. The soft keyboard may occupy a data entryarea or window brought up over the remainder of the display when neededfor entry of alphanumeric data, may occupy a data entry area or windowwhich remains in position as a portion of the display at all times, ormay occupy the entirety of the available display area during use,depending upon the particular application programs with which thekeyboard may interact.

Most of the keys are perfect hexagons, with the exception that the topand bottom row of keys are truncated in order to fit into a rectangle;some keys are "extended" hexagons, such as the "Space" key (this type ofkey is irregular itself, and also truncates the keys above and below);and the columns of keys on the right and left are rectangular. In thisexample, keyboard functions are on the right side and the feature fieldhere identified as a "SmartList" is on the left. (The SmartList is alist of values that were previously entered in the current field. In thefigure, the user is entering the name of a city and has typed "C." Referto the related applications mentioned above for further discussion.)

The hexagonal key keyboard has a number of advantages. The keys arestaggered so that the "H" key is between the "L" and "M" keys. This isan advantage when imitating the traditional QWERTY keyboard which usesstaggered keys. The hexagons are oriented with vertices above and below,instead of edges above and below. This gives the letters with extendersand descenders enough vertical space.

A general advantage of hexagons over rectangles is that only three keyssurround each vertex, and each key connects to its neighbor by acomplete edge. With rectangles, there are four keys surrounding eachvertex and keys are connected diagonally by a vertex rather than by anedge. This makes mistakes more likely as users move between keys.

Taking advantage of the last property of hexagons, a polar pointingdevice (such as a wiggle stick, mouse or trackball) can operate ahexagonal keyboard. The control programs functions to snap a pointerbetween keys, and can access six adjacent keys from any given startingcurrent location. This is much better than rectangular keys which onlyoffer four adjacent keys.

The hexagonal keyboard in FIG. 9 is implemented as two "planes". One isa Rectangle Plane which is an array that contains rectangle coordinates.There are several rectangles in the keyboard:

a. The rectangles in the columns on the left right side.

b. The rectangles in the extended keys. In the "Space" key in FIG. 9,there is a rectangle defined by the top and bottom vertices of twoadjacent hexagons. A hit in this rectangle is the same as a hit in oneof the hexagons. The regions of the "Space" key are two hexagonsoverlaid by a rectangle. The rectangle is in the Rectangle Plane.

c. The rectangles that bound the keyboard on the top and bottom. Hits inthese rectangles are discarded because they are outside the keyboard.

The Rectangle Plane is "on top," meaning that if a hit is inside one ofthe rectangles, the algorithm does not consider the next plane.

The other plane is here called the Center Plane, which is an array ofall the central points of the hexagons. If the Rectangle Plane does notinterpret a hit, then the algorithm uses the Center Plane. The algorithmdetermines which hexagon's center is the closest to the hit (point ofselection). This defines which hexagon contains the hit. This procedureworks for all the area enclosed by each hexagon, both along the edgesand in the corners, in a grid of perfect hexagons.

The entire algorithm is quick, simple, and does not require floatingpoint arithmetic. Though the Center Plane involves distances, it onlyuses the comparisons and not the actual distances, so no square root isnecessary. The simplest form of this algorithm calculates

    Distance=(xHit-xCenter).sup.2 +(yHit-yCenter).sup.2

where xHit and yHit are the coordinates of the point of contact, andxCenter and yCenter are the central point of each hexagon. A loopcalculates Distance for each hexagonal key, remembering which was theshortest. An alternative, more complex approach performs a binary searchalong each axis, always moving closer. With either approach, square rootcalculations are avoided.

The foregoing is a specialized algorithm for determining which hexagonin an interlocking grid contains a point. However, there is a moregeneral algorithm to determine whether a point lies within a polygon.The general method works for any polygon, in addition to interlockingperfect polygons. The general algorithm operates by drawing a line froma point so that it crosses the edges of the polygon. As the line goesaway from the point, if it crosses the polygon edges an odd number oftimes, then the point lies within the polygon. This algorithm isdescribed in "Algorithms" by Robert Sedgewick (Addison Wesley, 1988, 2ndEd.) And discussed in "Computer Graphics" by Foley, van Damm, Feiner andHughes (Addison Wesley, 1990, 2nd Ed.). The general algorithm hasadvantages in that it avoids any requirement that key elements beperfect hexagons (key elements can be elongated horizontally orvertically); hit testing can be performed on an individual key elementwithout requiring tests on other keys (a more modular design); and it isan existing, "off-the-shelf" algorithm readily available in manysoftware environments (and thus need not be specially written).

The advantage of the specialized algorithm is speed. It does not requirefloating point arithmetic. This is significant where processor speed andpower may be limited. The specialized algorithm will work correctly withelongation of a key element, provided that the elongation is less thanextreme.

In the form here illustrated and described, invisible hexagons bound thekeyboard on the left and right. These invisible keys do not return anyvalue if they are selected. Their purpose is to discard any hits whichoccur on the left and right of the valid hexagonal keys.

A more generalized, versatile design for keyboards using this inventionwill divide a data entry display area into a plurality of zones. Onewill be a Center zone, in which hexagonal or possibly rectangular keyelements will be displayed. Four others are peripheral or borderingzones here referred to, for convenience, by the cardinal directions ofthe compass--North, South, East and West. Only the Center zone willcontain hexagonal key elements. The Center zone can contain allhexagonal key elements or all rectangular key elements, and will avoidany mixture of the two. The purpose of the peripheral or bordering zonesis to provide a buffer of rectangular key elements (active or not)between the Center zone and the edges of the keyboard. Each border areais optional for a particular keyboard layout. For example, if thekeyboard is wide (or in landscape format), then the East and West borderareas are used to contain keys which are not or cannot be accommodatedin the Center zone, and the North and South border zones are unused. Ifthe keyboard is tall (or in portrait format), then the North and Southareas are used instead of East and West. A fifth zone is here referredto as the List zone, and may take varying positions as describedhereinafter.

By using a zoned organization, the present invention contemplates that auser may "morph" the keyboard display into various forms. As here used,the term "morph" takes a meaning common in the computer graphics field.Dictionary definitions for the word "morph" will indicate the meaning asbeing an individual of one particular form in a species which occurs ina plurality of forms. In computer graphics, this meaning has beenextended to encompass a process of amending an individual display, suchas of a human face, into a differing display, such as a second humanface, by a process of changing picture elements (pixels) or areas of thedisplay. Sometimes morphing is progressive through a sequence ofchanges, as has been done, for example, in certain popular music videoswhere an image of a performer is taken through changes to be alteredinto the images of a number of other persons. Here, a user may morph thekeyboard into various types of displays as will be described.

As suggested, one advantage of the implementation here described is thatit supports conventional rectangular keyboards in the Center zone.Rectangular soft keyboards are necessary for some applications such asphone number pads, data number pads, and calendars. In these cases,users are accustomed to a rectangular layout. Also, some users enjoy thefreedom to choose between rectangular and hexagonal keyboards for textentry.

The above implementation supports a rectangular keyboard by using theRectangular Plane exclusively and leaving the Center Plane empty. Thistype of keyboard should support "extended" rectangular keys, similar tothe extended hexagonal keys, so that a key can be wider than one column.By the extensive use of extended keys, a rectangular keyboard can bestaggered like a conventional "QWERTY" keyboard. Hexagonal keyboards arenaturally staggered.

The technology which has been described is applicable not only to softkeys, but also to other selectable items displayed in densely packedarrays such as icons, hypertext links, and so forth. Examples of othersystems in which the keyboard of this invention will have utility areshown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,479 issued 23 Jul. 1996,assigned to common owners here described, and to which the interestedreader is referred.

As described to this point, the system of FIGS. 1 through 9 embodiesinventions for which protection is sought in certain of the companionapplications identified above as being related to this invention.

Turning now to the distinctive characteristics of the present subjectinvention, attention is directed to FIGS. 10 through 16. As theredisclosed, and now to be described, there are particular interactionsbetween the keyboard and associated lists which enhance efficiency ofdata entry and facilitate adaptation of a displayed keyboard to userpreference. It is to be understood at the outset of the followingdiscussion that the drawings have been simplified in FIGS. 10 through 16by showing only the displayed data entry area of a keyboard andassociated lists established by execution of control programs on asystem processor, excluding a repetitive disclosure of the systemcharacteristics and the like. It is contemplated by the presentinvention that operating system and application programs executing onthe processor of a system will display over the entirety or a portion ofan available display area the displays of FIGS. 10 through 16.

The keyboard display of FIG. 10 will be noted to have an open areaadjacent the upper edge of the display (in the North zone). That openarea is optionally provided to display to a user a character string(alphabetic, numeric or alphanumeric) being entered or an elementselected from a list for filling a data field in a form, in order thatthe user may confirm the accuracy of the string before entering thedata. Alternatively, the entries made by the user may appear directly inthe data field being filled. Many applications will select this latterimplementation. The keyboard is in a "landscape" format, having a widthsignificantly greater than the height. Such a display is best adapted todisplay areas capable of accommodating such an orientation and having awidth greater than the height of the available area. The Center zone isoccupied by a QWERTY hexagonal keyboard. The East zone is occupied byrectangular function keys for five particular functions which a user mayrequire. The West zone is absent. The South zone is occupied byrectangular keys, some of which are function keys for functions which auser will require and two others of which call portions of theapplicable programs which enable adaptation of the keyboard display. Inan operating embodiment of this invention, a user selecting the functionkey disposed between the Caps key and the Close key may bring up a menu(not illustrated) enabling adaptation of the display.

One such adaptation is shown in FIG. 11. There, a split has beenintroduced in that the List zone of the data entry display area hasopened as a window to show a portion of a list (here of state names)from which an entry may be selected for a data field (see U.S. Ser. No.08/703,171 and related applications). Note that the East zone keysremain unaltered and that the South zone keys have followed the split.That is, the list window has its own South zone function keys, whilethose associated with the hexagonal cell keyboard have remained inposition below the keyboard display, having been shrunk widthwise.

The demarcation line between the List zone window and the keyboarddisplay is movable. That is, by an appropriate control such as a cursoror function called from a menu, a user may provide that the List zoneand its display take up varying percentages of the available displaywidth. For example, a list of elements having short names may requireonly one tenth of the width for a usable display, while a list ofelements having more characters in their names may require one third ofthe width.

The function keys associated with the List zone (as here illustrated)include functions which return to the keyboard only display of FIG. 10(below and immediately to the left of the dividing line in the Figure,at the East end of the window); move down or up the associated list bylines (the keys to the left of the keyboard restore key); and load otherlists and configure the lists (the key at the left or west edge of thewindow).

A "default" configuration acceptable to the largest number of usersmight be one which is right handed, landscape orientation, and with thekeyboard split between list and typing keys. Such a keyboard would havesix displayed zones, as mentioned above (Center, North, East, South,West and List). The display would present the List zone to the left orwest side of the West zone. In considering the morphing possibilities,the sole required zone is the Center, with the remaining zones beingoptional. Each zone has rectangular keys, with the exception that theCenter zone has selectable hexagonal or rectangular keys as describedabove. The List zone will have an entire row of keys, with only thefirst few being displayed in normal use. A function similar to a scrollleft or right will enable viewing of the remainder of the keys.

Should a user morph the keyboard into a display of the List zone alone,then as many as possible of the List zone keys would be displayed.Should it become necessary to hide a portion of the List function keyswhen displaying the all zones, then those hidden are selected to bethose function keys which have duplicate functions among the functionkeys displayed in the North, East or South zones.

Should a user morph the keyboard into a display from which the List zoneis excluded, then the Center zone becomes elongated and the typing keyswiden to occupy the available display area.

Should a user morph the keyboard into a left handed configuration, thenthe columns of keys are reflected as the West zone (for example) takesthe position formally occupied by the East zone. The keys of the Centerzone remain unreflected, to maintain the desired (such as QWERTY)organization. For a better understanding of these functionality, comparethe South zone below the keyboard in FIGS. 11 and 12, and the portionbelow the data values in the List zone in those same Figures.

A "handed" adaptation of the display is shown in FIG. 12. Thearrangement there displayed has substantial identity to the arrangementof FIG. 11, with the exception that the display has been adapted to analternate hand. That is, the keyboard function keys have been placed atthe Western edge of the keyboard, and the List zone window is opened atthe Eastern edge of the display area. This enables a user preferringplacement of keyboard function keys at the Western edge to achieve thatresult in configuring the display area.

Yet another adaptation is shown in FIG. 13. There, a user whoanticipates filling a data field solely from a list has chosen tosuppress the hexagonal cell keyboard altogether. Only the List zone isdisplayed, as described above. A shortcut button (displaying "States")is provided to enable a user to directly load a preselected list (here,state identifiers) should the user have been using another list (such ascity names). Such shortcut or direct load buttons can be provided asdesired by a form designer or user to enhance user efficiency.

FIGS. 10 through 13 all illustrate a "landscape" orientation of thekeyboard and list display of this invention. It is to be noted that allthese displays (and still others not illustrated) are created from onekeyboard layout. An application program developer need develop only asingle keyboard layout, which can then be morphed into any of the formsshown and described.

The invention is equally adaptable to a "portrait" display as would berequired were the display to have greater height than width. Such adisplay also facilitates use of a system, such as the personalcommunications assistant described above, in differing orientations ofuse.

FIG. 14 illustrates a portrait adaptation of the keyboard of FIG. 10,and the discussion given above with regard to that figure is applicable.FIG. 15 illustrates a split display having both a keyboard and a limitedlist display window, similarly to FIGS. 11 and 12 described above. FIG.16 illustrates a display having a majority of the available area givenover to the list display, similarly to FIG. 13 described above.

In the drawings and specifications there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are used, thedescription thus given uses terminology in a generic and descriptivesense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile client computer comprising:a housingsized to be held in and manipulated by the hand of a user; a processormounted within said housing and processing digital data; memory mountedwithin said housing for storing digital data and coupled to saidprocessor; a display mounted in said housing and coupled to saidprocessor and said memory to display information derived from digitaldata processed by said processor; an input digitizer mounted in saidhousing and overlaying said display, said digitizer being coupled tosaid processor and enabling input of digital data by a user; and acontrol program stored in said memory and accessible by said processorto direct the processing of digital data by said processor; said controlprogram and said processor cooperating, when said control program isexecuting on said processor, ina) defining on said display a data entryarea having a central zone and a plurality of peripheral zones extendingaround said central zone; b) selectively displaying in said central zoneof said data entry area a keyboard formed by a plurality of adjoiningcells, each defining a selectable input; c) displaying in first andsecond peripheral zones around said central zone a plurality ofrectangular functional input keys, each defining a selectable command;and d) selectively displaying in a third peripheral zone around saidcentral zone a list of data entries from which a user may determine datato be entered.
 2. A mobile client computer according to claim 1 whereinsaid display is oriented in use with a vertical display axis and ahorizontal display axis and further wherein said defined data entry areahas a horizontal dimension greater than the vertical dimension thereof.3. A mobile client computer according to claim 1 wherein said display isoriented in use with a vertical display axis and a horizontal displayaxis and further wherein said defined data entry area has a verticaldimension greater than the horizontal dimension thereof.
 4. A mobileclient computer according to claim 1 wherein said control program andsaid processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on saidprocessor, in defining said data entry area to be a right rectangleoriented to have a top edge, a bottom edge, a left side edge, and aright side edge.
 5. A mobile client computer according to claim 4wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when saidcontrol program is executing on said processor, in displaying saidplurality of rectangular functional input keys in first and secondperipheral zones located adjacent said bottom edge and one of said leftside edge and said right side edge around said central zone.
 6. A mobileclient computer according to claim 5 wherein said one side edge is saidright side edge.
 7. A mobile client computer according to claim 5wherein said one side edge is said left side edge.
 8. A mobile clientcomputer according to claim 4 wherein said control program and saidprocessor cooperate, when said control program is executing on saidprocessor, in selectively displaying said list adjacent one of said leftside edge, said right side edge and said top edge around said centralzone.
 9. A mobile client computer according to claim 8 wherein said listis selectively displayed adjacent said left side edge.
 10. A mobileclient computer according to claim 8 wherein said list is selectivelydisplayed adjacent said right side edge.
 11. A mobile client computeraccording to claim 8 wherein said list is selectively displayed adjacentsaid top edge.
 12. A mobile client computer according to claim 4 whereinsaid control program and said processor cooperate, when said controlprogram is executing on said processor, in defining said data entry areato be a right rectangle having a horizontal dimension greater than thevertical dimension thereof.
 13. A mobile client computer according toclaim 4 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, whensaid control program is executing on said processor, in defining saiddata entry area to be a right rectangle having a vertical dimensiongreater than the horizontal dimension thereof.
 14. A mobile clientcomputer according to claim 1 wherein said control program and saidprocessor cooperate, when said control program is executing on saidprocessor, in selectively displacing the display of said central zonewith the display of said third peripheral zone.
 15. A mobile clientcomputer according to claim 1 wherein said control program and saidprocessor cooperate, when said control program is executing on saidprocessor, in enabling a user to morph the displayed zones into avariety of configurations.
 16. A computer comprising:a housing; aprocessor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupledto said processor; a display coupled to said processor and said memoryto display information derived from digital data processed by saidprocessor; and a control program stored in said memory and accessible bysaid processor to direct the processing of digital data by saidprocessor; said control program and said processor cooperating, whensaid control program is executing on said processor, ina) defining onsaid display a data entry area having a central zone and a plurality ofperipheral zones extending around said central zone; b) selectivelydisplaying in said central zone of said data entry area a keyboardformed by a plurality of adjoining hexagonal cells, each defining aselectable input; c) displaying in first and second peripheral zonesaround said central zone a plurality of rectangular functional inputkeys, each defining a selectable command; and d) selectively displayingin a third peripheral zone around said central zone a list of dataentries from which a user may determine data to be entered.
 17. Acomputer according to claim 16 wherein said display is oriented in usewith a vertical display axis and a horizontal display axis and furtherwherein said defined data entry area has a horizontal dimension greaterthan the vertical dimension thereof.
 18. A computer according to claim16 wherein said display is oriented in use with a vertical display axisand a horizontal display axis and further wherein said defined dataentry area has a vertical dimension greater than the horizontaldimension thereof.
 19. A computer according to claim 16 wherein saidcontrol program and said processor cooperate, when said control programis executing on said processor, in defining said data entry area to be aright rectangle oriented to have a top edge, a bottom edge, a left sideedge, and a right side edge.
 20. A computer according to claim 19wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when saidcontrol program is executing on said processor, in displaying saidplurality of rectangular functional input keys in first and secondperipheral zones located adjacent said bottom edge and one of said leftside edge and said right side edge around said central zone.
 21. Acomputer according to claim 20 wherein said one side edge is said rightside edge.
 22. A computer according to claim 20 wherein said one sideedge is said left side edge.
 23. A computer according to claim 19wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when saidcontrol program is executing on said processor, in selectivelydisplaying said list adjacent one of said left side edge, said rightside edge and said top edge around said central zone.
 24. A computeraccording to claim 23 wherein said list is selectively displayedadjacent said left side edge.
 25. A computer according to claim 23wherein said list is selectively displayed adjacent said right sideedge.
 26. A computer according to claim 23 wherein said list isselectively displayed adjacent said top edge.
 27. A computer accordingto claim 23 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate,when said control program is executing on said processor, in definingsaid data entry area to be a right rectangle having a horizontaldimension greater than the vertical dimension thereof.
 28. A computeraccording to claim 23 wherein said control program and said processorcooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, indefining said data entry area to be a right rectangle having a verticaldimension greater than the horizontal dimension thereof.
 29. A computeraccording to claim 16 wherein said control program and said processorcooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, inselectively displacing the display of said central zone with the displayof said third peripheral zone.
 30. A computer according to claim 16wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when saidcontrol program is executing on said processor, in enabling a user tomorph the displayed zones into a variety of configurations.
 31. Adisplay generating system comprising:a housing; a processor mountedwithin said housing and processing digital data; memory mounted withinsaid housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;said processor and said memory cooperating in supplying digital datadriving a display of visual images; and a control program stored in saidmemory and accessible by said processor to direct the processing ofdigital data by said processor; said control program and said processorcooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor,ina) defining on said display a data entry area having a central zoneand a plurality of peripheral zones extending around said central zone;b) selectively displaying in said central zone of said data entry area akeyboard formed by a plurality of adjoining hexagonal cells, eachdefining a selectable input; c) displaying in first and secondperipheral zones around said central zone a plurality of rectangularfunctional input keys, each defining a selectable command; and d)selectively displaying in a third peripheral zone around said centralzone a list of data entries from which a user may determine data to beentered.
 32. A display generating system according to claim 31 whereinsaid display is oriented in use with a vertical display axis and ahorizontal display axis and further wherein said defined data entry areahas a horizontal dimension greater than the vertical dimension thereof.33. A display generating system according to claim 31 wherein saiddisplay is oriented in use with a vertical display axis and a horizontaldisplay axis and further wherein said defined data entry area has avertical dimension greater than the horizontal dimension thereof.
 34. Adisplay generating system according to claim 31 wherein said controlprogram and said processor cooperate, when said control program isexecuting on said processor, in defining said data entry area to be aright rectangle oriented to have a top edge, a bottom edge, a left sideedge, and a right side edge.
 35. A display generating system accordingto claim 34 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate,when said control program is executing on said processor, in displayingsaid plurality of rectangular functional input keys in first and secondperipheral zones located adjacent said bottom edge and one of said leftside edge and said right side edge around said central zone.
 36. Adisplay generating system according to claim 35 wherein said one sideedge is said right side edge.
 37. A display generating system accordingto claim 35 wherein said one side edge is said left side edge.
 38. Adisplay generating system according to claim 35 wherein said controlprogram and said processor cooperate, when said control program isexecuting on said processor, in selectively displaying said listadjacent one of said left side edge, said right side edge and said topedge around said central zone.
 39. A display generating system accordingto claim 38 wherein said list is selectively displayed adjacent saidleft side edge.
 40. A display generating system computer according toclaim 38 wherein said list is selectively displayed adjacent said rightside edge.
 41. A display generating system according to claim 38 whereinsaid list is selectively displayed adjacent said top edge.
 42. A displaygenerating system according to claim 38 wherein said control program andsaid processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on saidprocessor, in defining said data entry area to be a right rectanglehaving a horizontal dimension greater than the vertical dimensionthereof.
 43. A display generating system according to claim 38 whereinsaid control program and said processor cooperate, when said controlprogram is executing on said processor, in defining said data entry areato be a right rectangle having a vertical dimension greater than thehorizontal dimension thereof.
 44. A display generating system accordingto claim 31 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate,when said control program is executing on said processor, in selectivelydisplacing the display of said central zone with the display of saidthird peripheral zone.
 45. A display generating system according toclaim 31 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, whensaid control program is executing on said processor, in enabling a userto morph the displayed zones into a variety of configurations.